The Development of Agricultural Land in Counties Kaunas, Klaipėda, Vilnius

Abstract

In the analyzed counties forest areas are slowly increasing every year. In Lithuania, forest areas have increased by 59.4 thousand ha (i.e. by 1.5%) during the period of 2000-2006, in Vilnius County - by 9.2%, in Kaunas County - by 0.9%, in Klaipeda County - by 1.6%, respectively. It happened due to the planting of forests in the fanning lands with poor soils. The areas of roads, water reservoirs and built up territories are not changing or are changing very insignificantly. The areas of other lands (plantings of trees and shrubs, wetlands, damaged soils, unused soils) are decreasing every year. The data on the land use is helpful when preparing the country's development strategy, foreseeing support measures, carrying out territory planning. Farmers need the data as well, for example, when choosing the most efficient ways of the land use. Therefore, the aim of this work is to analyse the distribution of agricultural lands according to the farming land areas, property forms, users and their variation from 2000 to 2006 years in the counties of Klaipeda, Kaunas, Vilnius and in Lithuania as a whole. Investigation material is analysed using statistical, statistical analysis and comparison methods. By Januray 1, 2006, the agricultural land in the Republic of Lithuania made up 3954.6 thousand ha or 60.6 % of the total territory area. In Vilnius County it made up 49.8%, in Kaunas County - 60.8% and in Klaipeda County - 54.4%. During the investigation period the structure of agricultural land has changed significantiy according to the property forms and users. The areas of private lands increased and the area of state and state-managed land decreased. At present, landowners manage the largest part of agricultural land. In Lithuania, this land makes up 69.6% from the total area, in Vilnius County - 56.9%, in Kaunas County - 73.8% and in Klaipeda County - 65.3%. The number of farmers is increasing every year, and the number of agricultural companies and other agricultural enterprises as well as the land areas managed by them are decreasing significantly, because the part of enterprises are self-liquidating and new ones are not being established. The distribution of agricultural land according to farming lands hasn't changed much during the investigation period. The areas of arable lands, meadows and natural pastures are decreasing marginally; only the areas of orchards and gardens are increasing every year, because land-owners plant new orchards and berry-plantations. In the structure of farming lands forest areas are changing most of all in Lithuania.